Filament cleaning, cutting, and forming machine



Nov. 21, 1933. J wlLLlAMS 1,936,559

FILAMENT CLEANING, CUTTING, AND FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet l A T T ORNE Y Nov. 21, 1933. J. A. WILLIAMS FILAMENTCLEANING, CUTTING, AND FORMING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Nl NTOR W Q 4m/dw, J) 757 'ATT RN Filed Oct. 31, 1930 NOV. 21, 1933. A w s 1,936,559

. FILAIENT CLEANING, CUTTING, AND FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet 5 ml. lmnuwai sr mun A 7 ORMEY Nov. 21, 1933. J. A.WILLIAMS w ls936i559 FILAMENT CLEANING, CUTTING, AND FORMING MACHINEFiled Oct. 31, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 %L 4 MTORNE Y Nov. 21, 1933. J, AWILLIAMS 1,936,559

FILAMENT CLEANING, CUTTING, AND FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31; 1930 6Sheets-Sheet 5 6 INVENTOR 7 A TTORNE Y Fig. 2;

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES FILAMENT CLEANING, CUTTING, AND

FORMING MACHINE John A. Williams, Newark, N. J., assignor of one-half toJoseph York, N. Y.

F. Brandenburg, New

Application October 31, 1930. Serial No. 492,545

36 Claims.

This invention embraces a machine for making radio tube filaments fromthe continuous coated filament wire, that is to say a machine whichadvances the continuous filament by definite distances, which removesthe coating from portions of the filament for two endsof the individualfilaments to be produced, which cuts off the exact amount of filamentfor each individual filament, and which forms the individual filamentsinto a desired shape, so that the product of the machine is ready forincorporation in the tubes.

The general object of the invention is to provide a machine whichperforms these operations automatically,accurately and reliably, and hasa very high rate of production, and which iswell adapted to handle thedelicatefcoated filament.

irregular line 3-3 of Fig. 1, portions in the outer part of the line ofsection being in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section on a still larger scale taken on the line 44 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

- Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line66 of Fig. 1, with the filament included in the line of section;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the guide shown in} Fig. 6 which positions thecontinuous filament in relation to the cleaners and exposes a shortlength of the filament tothe cleaning action;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of this guide;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8, omitting thefilament;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 11 is a view partlyin elevation and partly in section on the line 11--1l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11; 1

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line l313 of Fig. 1;

of the filament.

Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line 14-44 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line 15--l5 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 16 is a section taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line 1'71'7 of Fig. 2;

.Fig. 18 is a section taken on the line 18-18 of Fig. 1'7; and

Figs. 19 to 23 are schematic views illustrating operation.

The machine has a base 2, at one end of which is a drive unit 3 adaptedto receive power through a'shaft 4, preferably from a motor. This unitcontains appropriate gearing, not necessary to illustrate, for drivingtwo power delivery shafts at coordinated speeds. One of these shafts,indicated at 5 in Fig. 1, lies in the direction of the length of thebase, and carries a slidable clutch element 6, while the other shaft,marked '7, projects transversely from the unit and carries a pair ofpulleys 8, 8.

A spool or reel 9 of the coated filament wire is mounted preferably onanextraneous support. It is desirable to provide a regulable brake ortension adjuster in connection with the filament supply, but it has notbeen thought necessary to illustrate this.

The clutch element 6 can be engaged and disengaged at will with a clutchelement 10 on the rear end of a longitudinal operating shaft 11, whichis mounted in bearings in and 'extends through a box frame 12 secured tothe base. The clutch element 6 is shifted by manipulation of a handle13, the particular details of this manual control being immaterial.

The shaft 11 carries a series of cams 14, 15, 16 and 17, controllingcertain operations of the machine which will be explained in due course.5

At this point it may be convenient to follow the continuous filament afrom the reel 9. The course is lengthwise at one side of the machine,which may be termed the front. It passes, first through a trough 18,which is provided in this particular form of the machine to keep therear end of the continuous filament, when the supply is exhausted, fromdropping into the pulleys 8 and the belts which they drive. a

A back check 19 is conveniently mounted on this trough, though there isno reason Why it should not be placed farther along in the course Thefunction of this device is to prevent any unintended rearward.displacement of the filament. It is a species of clutch, 0

and preferably, though not necessarily, comprises a pivoted dog restingby gravity at an inclination on the filament a at a point where thefilament passes over a support 20. A clutch of this kind will permitfree forward movement of the filament while always preventing rearwardmovement.

At a station corresponding to the outer part of the section line 3-3 inFig. 2, there is another clutch 21 (Figs. 4 and 19-23), which isoperated to permit the filament to be periodically advanced and-to holdthe filament when or after it has been advanced a distance correspondingto the amount to be cut off and formed. This clutch holds the continuousfilament against displacement by the action of cleaners 22, which arelocated beyond this clutch. This clutch, when in action, preferablyholds the filament against movement rearward as well as forward, thoughthe former is not absolutely necessary, and it is mechanically actuatedto grasp and release the filament.

The cleaners 22 remove the coating, or coatings, from a definite shortlength of the continuous filament at a definite distance back from itsforward end, the distance being preferably two individual filamentlengths from the advance end. The length of the spot on the filamentbared by the cleaners has to be quite accurate.

The preferred formbf cleaners will be described of a spot 12 (Figs.19-23) from which coating has been removed, so-that each bared spoteventually forms two bare ends of two individual filaments.

Beyond the cutting station, there is a forming mechanism for bending thefilaments into the required shape, and a simple kind of formingmechanism suitable for bending V filaments c (Fig. 23) has beenillustrated. The bare ends of these filaments are marked (1, and it willbe understood that the reason for these bare or uncoated ends is toenable the individual filaments to be welded to the electrical leads ofthe radio tube. This particular forming mechanism comprises a blade 24and a self-conforming die 25 (Figs. 13 and 1423).

The continuous filament is advanced periodically, preferably by agripper 216, which approaches and seizes the protruding-bared end of thecontinuous filament, retreats and eventually re leases the end.

The construction of the specific preferred embodiment of the machinewill now be described in more detail.

A supporting plate 2'7 is adjustably secured to the front wall of theframe by screws 58, which, in conjunction with slots 59 in the plate,enable this support to be adjusted lengthwise of the course of thefilament. The plate carries a bracket 28 on which are pivoted at 29 and30 two arms 31 and 32, which extend forward in the direction of movementof the continuous filament and carry the cleaners 22 at opposite sidesof it. The arm 31 may comprise upper and lower bars 33 and 34 above andbelow the bracket, these bars being suitably united together, and thearm 32 may similarly comprise two united bars 35 and 36. The arms areinterconnected by gear segments 37 and 38 to move in unison toward andfrom each other. The arms thus connected are actuated by the cam 14,which acts upon the arm 32 through a resilient connection. For thispurpose a thrust bar 39 having a roller 40 bearing on the cam is guidedin a guide 41, in which is also guided a piece 42 loosely pivoted at 43to the bar 35 of the arm 32, a fairly stifi spring 44 being interposedbetween the parts 39 and 42 as a compensating thrust transmitter. Theaction of the cam is to swing the arms and the cleaners toward eachother, applying the clutch 21 and bringing the cleaners into contactwith the filament. A spring 45 (Figs. 1 and 3) secured to the bar 36 ofarm 32 and pressing against a stud 46 projecting from the bar 34 of arm31 serves to move the arms apart under control of the cam.

Cleaners in the nature of scrapers, grinders, buffers or brushes may beused for removing the coating from the filament. Rotary cleaners areparticularly advantageous and I V find that brushes, in particularbrushes having fine wire bristles, have special advantages. These rotarydisclikebrushes are carried in horziontal planes above the forward endsof the arms 31 and 32 at the level of the filament, and their shafts 47pass downward through the bars of the arms and carry small pulleys 48,which are connected by two belts 49 with the two drive pulleys 8. Theconnections are such that the cleaners are constantly rotated at highspeed in opposite circular directions, and that the peripheral movementat the regions where they will act on the filament is toward the forwardend of the filament, that is to say the brushes tend to move thefilament forward rather than backward, this tendency, however, beingentirely resisted by the clutch 21.

A positioner 50 is provided for positioning the filament in relation tothe cleaners. This positioner is preferably in the nature of a guidewhich exposes a comparatively short length of the wire to the action ofthe cleaners. It preferably comprises a bar 51, which extendslongitudinally adjacent one side of the path of the filament, and a faceblock 51* secured to the bar. The rear end of the bar 51 is shownsecured by a screw 52 (Fig. 2) to a fixed block 53 in a mannerpermitting of longitudinal adiustment of the positioner. A guide groove54 (Fig. 9) is formed in the inner face of the part 51"- to receive thefilament a,

which is shown in Fig. 6 as being of fiattened section and guided withits greater transverse dimension vertical, that is to say with its sidesopposed to the cleaners.

If the flat face of the bar 51 formed the inner wall of this guidepassage, the thin filament would tend to wear a way into the plane ofcleavage between the two parts, and to prevent this it is desirable tomake the groove in the part 51 deeper than the approximate thickness ofthe filament and to provide the bar 51 with a rib 55, so that this ribprojects laterally part way into the guide groove, with the result thatthe actual passage for the filament is offset from the plane ofcleavage.

The positioning guide thus formed is hollowed out at both sides toaccommodate the peripheries of the cleaners 22, and these lateralcavities the spot to be cleaned, and to employ another means, which willbe described, for regulating the length of the cleaned spot.

At this point it will be convenient to describe the clutch 21 and themanner in which it is operated.

A thimble 60 (Fig. 4) is set removably into an opening in the bar 51,which as will be remembered lies along one side of the course of thefilament. The walls of this thimble have slots 61 to provide a guidepassage for the filament A plunger 62 guided in the thimble has asocketed head 63 which receives a removable pad 64 of soft rubber orother yielding material to press against the side of the filament,thereby holding it against a plug 64 held removably in the thimble.Owing to the cushion element 64, injury to the filament is avoided andthe holding action is particularly effective. A light spring 65interposed between an internal shoulder 66 of the thimble and a head 67fixed to the outer end of the plunger releases the pressure of theclutch on the filament when the plunger is not pressed in. The bodilymovement of the clutch need be very slight.

The plunger 62 is pressed in by the inward movement of the arm 31. Forthis purpose the bar 33 of said arm is shown provided with a lug '70,through which a barrel 71 is screwed. This barrel contains a compressionspring 72 which bears at the rear end against a plug 73 fixed in thebarrel and at the inner end against the head of a pin 74 which protrudesslidably through a hole in the inner end of the barrel in line with theplunger 62. In this Way a thrust device is provided, so that when thecam 14 actuates the arms 31, 32 to bring the cleaners into contact withthe filament, or before the cleaners come into action, the -clutch 21 isapplied to the fila-. ment to keep it from being displaced, and inparticular to keep it from being dragged forward by the rubbing of thecleaners. Inward movement of the arm 3l causes the pin '74 to,

push against the head of the clutch plunger 62, actuating the clutch tohold the filament, and as the arms continue to move the spring '72yields until the end of the barrel 71 strikes the end of the clutchplunger, whereupon further inward movement of the arms and of thecleaners is stopped.

The thrust element which has been described can be accurately adjustedtoward or from the clutch plunger 62, by releasing a lock nut '75 andscrewing the barrel '71 slightly in or out in the lug 70, the outer endof the barrel having a kerf for the application of a screw-driver. Thisregulates the degree to which the cleaners 22'are pressed against thefilament. This affords a means for regulating the cleaning action and,by varying the extent to which the yielding peripheries of the cleanersare flattened against the sides of the filament, to cause the resultingcleaned spot to be shorter or longer, as desired. Very accurateadjustment of the length of the cleaned spot can be secured in thismanner.

At a definite position, which is preferably an individual filamentlength beyond the cleaners, the cutter 23 is located, and immediatelybehind the cutter there is a positioning and wiping guide '76. Thisguide positions the filament in proper relation for the cutters and alsopositions the resulting new end of the continuous filament at the properpoint to'be seized by the gripper 26. The device also has a gentle,non-positive holding action on the filament.

.the cleaned spot.

stem 83 having a socket 84 which can be pushed over the split post. Thisstem has an enlargement 85 similar to the enlargement 78 and likewisefurnished with a facing 86 of velvet or the like. 1

The soft facings 80, 86 bear gently against the filament and wipe offloose filament particles, which would otherwise give trouble. Thisdustremover, other forms of which will suggest themselves, is preferablyincorporated with the positioner which has just been described, but thatis not essential. It will be observed that the wiper elements 80, 86 arereadily removable and replaceable.

The positioner 76 is so located that when the filament is advanced thecleaned spot b which was last produced is brought just beyond thepositioner, and the cutter 23 is mounted and operated to cut thefilament in the exact center of The cutter clearly illustrated in Fig.10 comprises two shear blades, designated by the numeral 23, fixed tothe upper ends of a pair of arms 91 which are pivoted at 92 to a bracket93 fixed to the frame 12. These arms are geared together at 94 and arepressed apart by a spring 95. The cam 15 actuates the cutter through athrust element 96 guided in the wall of the frame and having rollers 97and 98 at its opposite ends to cooperate with the cam and with one ofthe two arms 91, respectively, a spring 99 being provided for retractingthis element. The cam 15 is shaped to allow the shear blades to separatewidely enough to allow the gripper 26 to pass between them. After thegripper has retreated, a portion 100 of this cam causes the blades toapproach the filament and at the proper moment a further elevation 101causes the cutter to sever the filament with a quick snip at the propermoment.

The gripper 26, which operates at the front end of the course of thefilament, will now be described, and at this point reference may be hadto Figs. 14-16. It comprises a pair of jaws designated by that referencenumeral 26, these jaws being pivoted on a pin 102 projecting from aslide block 103. This block is slidable between the sides of alongitudinal guide structure 104 which is carried by and beneath a shelf105 projecting from the front of the frame 12. Friction shoes.

106 in this block are urged by springs 107 against the sides of theguide, to produce a yielding resistance to movement of the block.Another slide 108 is guided in an upper portion of the guide structure,and this slide is connected by a pin 109, operating in a slot 110 of theshelf, to a link 111, which in turn is pivoted to the outer end of a camlever 112 pivoted to the frame at 113 to support the block 103, thoughobviously many of these details may be varied.

The bracket 117 is connected by links 120 with the tails of the gripperjaws. These links are so arranged that the first effect of the rearwardmovement of the slide 108 under the action of the cam 17 is to open thejaws, the slide 103 not moving for the moment. When the jaws are openedas far as they will go, which may be determined by stop shoulders on thejaws, or when the rod 118 comes in contact with the closed end of thesocket 119 of the slide 103, the open gripper is moved bodily toward theend of the filament. Conversely, the first effect of forward movement ofthe slide 108 controlled by the cam under pressure of the spring 116, isto close the gripper jaws together on the end of the continuousfilament, after which the continued pulling transmitted through thelinks 120 draws the gripper, and with it the filament, in the forwarddirection. The directions forward and rearward as here used havereference to the direction of travel of the continuous filament. It willbe observed that the gripper is of such type that the greater the pullof the links 120 the more firmly the jaws seize the filament end.

The jaws are pressed together by a light spring 140, which does not,however, keep the jaws from being opened when rearward thrust is exertedthrough the links 120.

The cam 1'7 has a main camming portion 121 constituting an up-slope anda down-slope which control the rearward and forward movements of thegripper. The low part 122 of the cam corresponds to a period of dwell ofthe gripper at the forward position. The point at which the grippercomes to rest, and consequently the length of filament which iswithdrawn at each cycle of operations, is determined by an adjustablestop screw 141 which limits the forward movement of the gripper lever112. This cam also has a slight rise 123 so positioned as to open thejaws at the proper moment to release the end of their individualfilament for the forming operation about to be described.

The former blade 24 is secured to the front end of a former bar 124,which slides in the frame 12 at right angles 'to the course of thecontinuous filament (Figs. 2, 10, 13, 16). The self-conforming cushiondie 25 is located at the opposite side of the filament, and these partsare capable of being separated sumciently to let the gripper 26 passbetween them. Both parts might be actuated to move toward and from eachother, as in the case of other instrumentalities which have beendescribed, but simplicity is served by reciprocating only the formerblade. The die 25 is preferably a plain pad of soft rubber held in acircular holder 126 set tightly in an opening in a support 127 fixed tothe front of the guidestructure 104.

As shown in Fig. 16, the former blade is fixed.

'detail and that the particular form of driving mechanisms, and whetherthey act positively in one or two directions, is a matter of preferredmechanical design. f

The cam 16 is shaped to cause the former 24 to recede far enough toclear the path for the gripper 26 on its rearward and forward travels,and to advance transversely of the terminal filament length at theproper time and for the proper distance to press it against and into thesurface of the die pad to produce a definite bending of the individualtube filament, the former then retreating out of the way again.

The mechanisms are so timed by the shaping and setting of the cams, allof which will be understood by the mechanic, that the former bladeencounters the terminal filament length while it is still connected withthe continuous filament and while itsforward end is still held orretained by the gripper 26. It is desirable, in fact, that theindividual filament stay held at both ends in this way until thefilament is reliably engaged by and between the forminginstrumentalities 24 and 25. Consequently, the

cutter 23 is not actuated by cam 15 to cut off the individual filament,and the gripper 26 is not released by the minor elevation'123 of cam1'7, until the terminal filament length is definitely or virtuallyengaged by and between the forming elements, whatever their specificnature or actuation, in a manner to preclude possibility of theindividual filament becoming displaced relatively to the former. Theinitial fiexure of the terminal filament length while it continues to beheld at both ends produces no undue tension'in the filament beyond theclutch 21, and in this connection it may be noted that in practice thetween the pressure of the gripper jaws, which pressure is due at thistime solely to the spring 140.

The terminal filament length having been sufficiently engaged by theformer mechanism, the cutter cuts off the filament length at the middleof the bare spot 1:, and the gripper is opened to free the forward endof the individual filament completely. The blunt blade 24 presses thebend in the individual filament farther into the die pad and theportions of the filament are freeto assume angular positionscorresponding to the requisite degree of bending.

The employment of a piece of soft rubber or like yielding material as acushion-surface die for this operation is of great advantage.Experiment. with shaped dies of unyielding material resulted in muchbreaking or weakening of the filaments, and this difficulty has beensatisfactorily overcome by the provision of the present die. A piece ofrubber having an original fiat surface is preferred, but obviously thesurface could be grooved beforehand, or a rigid die backing more or lessshaped might be covered with a layer of the yielding material.

In this instance the cushion-surface die, or self-conforming die as itmay be called, is held in a cup 126 which can be turned or otherwiseshifted in the fixed support 127 in a manner to expose fresh portions ofthe surface of the rubher to the former blade, when any particularportion of the rubber pad becomes too much indented or unduly fouledwith coating particles. The axis of the cup 126 is therefore preferablyeccentric to the former blade, and a kerf 132 is provided so that theholder can be turned by a screw driver. The pressure of the former bladeagainst the cushion-surface die beingmoderate, a fairly tight frictionalholding of the cup in 110 end of the filament is withdrawn somewhatbeits support is sufficient, but manifestly many of these details may bevaried.

It is possible for the action of the gripper 26 in grasping, withdrawingand holding the end of the continuous filament, to be affected bycoating particles, and a means is provided for overcoming thisdifiiculty. The object is to free the faces of the gripper jaws ofcoating dust, and while this may be accomplished in specificallydifferent ways, a simple expedient is to bevel the peripheries of theenlargements 78 and 85 of the filament wiper and positioner '76. Thesebevels are marked 133. When the gripper is moved rearward it comes to astop with its jaws open and embracing the tapered nose thus presented.The first effect of the then ensuing forward movement of the slide 108is to close the jaws toward each other, and consequently if the jaws donot engage the nose when they move rearward over it, they do so whenthey are withdrawn from it'. In-this way the jaws are freed of theparticles which they may carry. As soon as the gripper rides off thenose it closes upon the projecting end of the continuous filament anddraws it forward. The means for freeing the filament itself of looseparticles has already been described.

The operation of the machine has been described in connection with thedescription of the construction, but it will be briefly reviewed. Theschematic views, Figs. 19-23, will be of assistance.

In Fig. 19 a cycle of operations has been completed. A filament lengthhas been out 01f and formed and has been delivered from the machinethrough a chute 136, not previously referred to. The cleaners 22 arestill cleaning a spot b of the proper length a filament length behindthe bare end of the continuous filament, which then protrudes from thepositioner '76. The clutch 21 is holding the filament behind thecleaners. The cutters 23 are spaced apart, and the former 24 andformer-die 25 are also spaced apart to clear the way for the gripper 26.The gripper is open and can be understood to be starting or about tostart on its rearward travel under the action of the cam 17.

In Fig. 20,'the gripper has executed its rearward movement, has cleaneditself against the nose of the positioner 76 and has closed upon thebare end of the continuous filament. The cleaners 22 and the clutch 21have just opened, and the cutters and the forming instrumentalities arestill well separated, all of these matters being governed by the cams.

In Fig. 21 the gripper has drawn the continuous filament forward adistance corresponding to an individual filament length and is at rest,still holding the end of the filament. The cleaners 22 have closed onthe continuous filament at a new point and are in the act of removingcoating from a spot which will furnish two bare filament ends. Theclutch 21 has also been actuated to clasp the filament behind thecleaners, so that the cleaners do not drag the filament. The action ofthe clutch 21 is so timed that it is applied after the gripper 26' hascome to rest in its forward, dwell position and just before the cleaners22 come into action on the filament. The cutters 23 have been broughtclose to the bare spot I) in the filament just beyond the positioner'76, and the former blade 24 has been brought close to the middle of theindividual filament element.

Fig. 22 illustrates a condition a brief'instant later than the conditionof Fig. 21. All is the same except that the former 24 has flexed themiddle of the terminal filament length against the cushion-die 25, or soclose to it that the filament length is controlled by the forming meansand can not get out of position or shift so as to alter the equalproportions of the filament at opposite sides of the bend. The cutter isnow actuated by its cam to sever the individual filament about to beformed and the gripper is controlled by its cam so as to free the frontend of the severed filament.

Fig. 23 shows the stage immediately following, in which the former bladehaspressed the otherwise free individual filament far enough into thecushion die to produce the intended bending.

If the rise 123 on the cam 17 is only a local elevation, the gripper 26will close again immediately after opening to release the front end ofthe filament, but that is unimportant. 'As soon as the gripper isstarted rearward by the cam 17 it will have been opened in any event.

In Fig. 23 the formed filament c with its two bared ends d is ready tobe released by the forming mechanism and to be delivered from themachine, whereupon the former blade 24 will move out of the way and thegripper will proceed. rearward to take hold of the new and of thecontinuous filament and draw it forward an exact distance, after whichthe operations will continue in the same cycle.

A feature of the machine of much practical value is its capability ofproducing filaments of difierent lengths, say from an inch to an inchand a quarter. Adjustment of the screw 141 regulates the amount of thecontinuous filament which is drawn forward by the gripper 26 and therebythe length of the individual filaments. When any change of. thischaracter is made it is necessary also to change the position of thecleaners lengthwise of the course of the filament, and this isaccomplished by loosening the screws 58 and shifting the plate 27, whichsupports the cleaner arms, a proper distance forwarder rearward, afterwhich the screws are tightened again. The positioner guide 50 associatedwith the cleaners may also be adjusted at its fastening 52 if necessary.In addition, the point at which the former blade 24 bends the filamentmust be altered, and while this could be accomplished by an adjustmentof the former blade,-

it is more convenient to remove one blade from the former bar 124 and toapply another blade which is offset forwardly or rearwardly with respectto the blade which'was removed. This may be considered an adjustabilityof the former.

I realize that numerous changes and modifications may be made in thematters of construction and operation which havebeen described, thatparts of the invention can -be used in specifically differentorganizations of a similar nature, and that parts of the machine may beemployed to advantage without others, as for example to cut off and formmeasured filaments without removing coating, or to remove coating and toout 1011 the accurate filament lengths.

without forming in the machine. The machine which has been described isto be regarded as being illustrative of a practical embodiment of thecomplete and preferred form of execution of the invention rather than ina limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A machine of the character described, comprising the combination ofmeans for periodically gripping the end of a continuous coated filament,

withdrawing it a predetermined distancev and eventually releasing it,guides for the filament,

means for removing the coating from a short length of the filament backof its end, means for severing the filament in the middle of each regionthus cleaned, and means for formingthe successive individual filamentsthe ends of which have been bared.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising the combination ofmeans for periodically gripping the end of a continuous coated filament,withdrawing it a predetermined distance and eventually releasing it,guides for the filament, means for removing the coating from a shortlength of the filament back of its end, means for severing the filamentin the middle of eachregion thus cleaned, and means for forming thesuccessive individual filaments the ends of which have been bared, saidforming means comprising a blade and a-cushion surface.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising the combination ofmeans for periodically gripping the end of a continuous coated filament,withdrawing it a predetermined distance and eventually releasing it,guides for the filament, opposed rotary cleaners for removing thecoating from a short length of the filament back of its clutch forholding the filament after each withdrawal, means for removing thecoating from a short length of the filament back of its end, means forsevering the filament in the middle of each region thus cleaned, andmeans for forming the successive individual filaments the ends of whichhave been bared.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising the combination ofmeans for periodically gripping the end of a continuous coated filament,withdrawing it a predetermined distance and eventually releasing it,guides for' the filament, a clutch for holdinng the filament after eachwithdrawal, opposed rotary cleaners for removing the coating from ashort length 01 the filament back of its ends, said cleaners operatingbeyond the point where the filament is clutched and rubbing thereon in aforward direction, means for severing the filament in the middle of eachregion thus cleaned, and means'for forming the successive individualfilament the ends of which have check for preventing retrograde movement01 the filament when said clutch is opened, means for removing thecoating from a short length of the filament back of its end, means forsevering the filament in the middle of each region thus cleaned, andmeans for forming the successive individual filaments the ends of whichhave been bared.

7. A machine of the character described, com- 1 prising the combinationof means for periodically advancing a continuous coated 11112-13199? 5predetermined distance, means for removing the coating from a definiteshort length of the filament back of its end, means for severing thefilament in the middle of each region thus cleaned, and means forforming the successive individual filament the ends of which have beenbared.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means forperiodically advancing a continuous coated filament such as used forradio tubes, means for removing the coating from a short length of anintermediate portion of the filament back from the end of the filament,and means for severing the filament in the middle of each region thusbared.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means forperiodically advancing a continuous coated filament such as used r forradio tubes, and opposed rotary cleaners for removing the coating from ashort length of an intermediate portion of the filament back of its end.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansfor periodically advancing a continuous coated filament such as used forradio tubes, and opposed rotary brushes for removing the coating from ashort length of an intermediate portion of the filament back of its end.

11 In a machine of the character described, the combination of means forperiodically advancing a continuous coated filament such as used forradio tubes, opposed cleaners for removing the coating from a shortlength of an intermediate portion of the filament back of its end, andmeans for moving said cleaners into and out of contact with thefilament.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansfor periodically advancing a continuous coated filament such as used forradio tubes, cleaning means for removing the coating from a short lengthof an intermediate portion of thefilament back of its end, and a guidefor positioning the filament in relation to said cleaning means.

13. The combination of cleaning means for removing the coating from ashort intermediate length of a coated filament back from the end of thefilament, so that a substantial 'coated length of filament remainsbetween the cleaned section and the end of the filament, and a guide forpositioning the filament in relation to said cleaning means, said guidebeing constructed to expose a limited extent of the filament to thecleaning action.

14. Electrical filament forming means comprising a former for contactwith the filament wire, and a cooperating cushion surface for causi thewire to bend to form a filament element.

15. Electrical filament forming means comprising a former for contactwith the filament wire, a cooperating cushion pad for causing the wireto bend to form a filament element, and eccentric means for shiftingsaid pad to oppose different portions of its surface to the former.

16. The combination of means for periodically 140 advancing a coatedfilament, cleaning means operative to remove the coating from apredetermined short length, of the filament back of its end, a clutchfor grasping the filament back 01 the cleaning means, a cutter operatingin tron, of the cleaning means, and a positioning guide "for thefilament back of the cutter. F

17. The combination of a gripper and means for operating the sameperiodically to approach and grip the end of a continuous coatedfilament and to withdraw the same a predetermined distance, means forremoving the coating from a short length of the filament back of itsend,

means for severing the filament in the middle of each bared portion, andmeans for freeing the gripper of coating dust before it engages thebared end of the continuous filament.

18. The combination of a gripper and means for operating the sameperiodically to approach and grip the end of a continuous coatedfilament and to withdraw the same a predetermined distance, means forremoving the coating'from a short length of the filament back of itsend, means for severing the filament in the middle or" each baredportion, a guide for positioning the filament immediately behind theregion where it is cut, and gripper cleaning means associated with saidguide to be engaged by said gripper just before it seizes the protrudingbared end of the continuous filament.

' 19. In a machine for making electrical filament elements, thecombination of means for gripping the end of a continuous filament,mechanism to peridocially operate the gripping means to pull thefilament wire forward the length of a filament element and then releasethe wire, and means for severing successive filament elements.

20. In a machine for making electrical filament elements, thecombination of means for gripping the end of a continuous filament,mechanism to periodically operate the gripping means to pull thefilament wire forward the length of a filament element and then releasethe wire, means for severing successive filament elements, and means forforming the elements.

21. The combination of a pair of arms connected to move toward and fromeach other in unison, means for operating said arms, rotary filamentcleaners carried by said arms, and a filament clutch operated by one ofthe arms.

22. In a machine for making electrical filamentelements, the combinationof a clutch for holding the filament wire, said clutch comprising afixed part and a plunger movable toward and from said part, and a camcontrolling said plunger.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a clutchfor holding the filament wire. said clutch comprising a fixed part, ayielding pad and a holder for said pad movable toward and from saidfixed part, and a cam controlling said holder.

24. An automatic machine of the character described comprising means forperiodically advancing a continuous coated filament such as used forradio tubes, means for severing individual filaments therefrom, meansfor removing coating so as to provide the elements with bare ends whilethe intermediate portion remains coated, and means for forming theindividual filaments.

25. In a machine of the character described, a gripper comprisingcooperative relatively movable gripping elements, a slide to which theyare pivoted, a cam lever, links connecting said gripping elements withthe cam lever, and yielding means for resisting movement of said slideso that on movement of the gripper in one direction its elements areseparated while on movement in the opposite direction they are closed.

26. In a machine of the character described, a reciprocatory gripper toseize the forward end or a continuous filament and withdraw the same,said gripper comprising a pair of jaws, a spring urging said jawstogether, and cam-actuated mechanism controlling the gripper, includinglink means, operated by the initial movement of said ing the filament toremove loose coating particles.

28. In a machine for making electrical filament elements, means forfeeding a continuous coated filament through the machine, a positionerthrough which the coated filament passes, and a wiper of soft materialassociated with said positioner for cleaning loose particles from thefilament.

29. In a machine for making coated electric filament elements, thecombination of opposed cleaners, means for'operating the cleaners toremove the coating from short portions of a coated filament, means forpressing said cleaners against opposite sides of the filament, and meansfor regulating the pressure.

30. In a machine of the character described, the combination of opposedcleaners for removing the coating from a short intermediate portion of acoated filament, a guide for positioning the filament .between saidcleaners, said guide being constructed to expose a limited extent-of thefilament to the cleaners, means for pressing the cleaners against thefilament, and means for regulating the pressure.

31. The combination of means for periodically gripping the end of acontinuous filament, withdrawing it a predetermined distance andeventually releasing it, means for severing successive individualfilaments from the continuous length, means for forming each individualfilament, and means for operating the instrumentalities so that eachindividual filament is in the engagement of said forming means beforethe severing and before the release of the gripper.

32. The combination of means for periodically gripping the end of acontinuous filament, withdrawing it, a predetermined distance andeventually releasing it, means for severing successive individualfilaments from the continuous length, means for forming each individualfilament, and means for operating. the instrumentalities so that eachindividual filament is in the engagement of said forming means while itis still connected with the continuous filament.

33. The combination of opposed rotarycleaners for removing coating froma portion of a coated filament, guide means for holding the filamentbetween the cleaners, and a mechanically operated clutch for holdingthe. filament against the drag of the cleaners.

34. In a machine for making electrical filament elements, thecombination of a reciprocatory gripper'for periodically advancing acoated, continuous filament a distance, substantially equal to thedesired length of filament element, a cutter for severing the filamentat a given point, and means for regulating the'extent of the travel. ofthe gripper to control the length of the filament elements cut ofi.

35. In a machine of the character described, the combination of areciprocatory gripper for periodically advancing a continuouscoatedfilament, a cutter for severing the filament at a given point, cleanersfor removing coating from a short length of the filament'back of thecutting station, means for regulating the distance to which the filamentis advanced by the gripstation, a former operative beyond the cuttingstation, means for regulating the extent of travel of the gripper, meansenabling the positions of the cleaners to be adjusted lengthwise or thefilament, and a means of adjustment enabling the forming action to becentralized with respect to the individual filament which is cut off.

JOHN A. WILLIAMS.

